The European Union (EU) is known for being the biggest market for canned tuna in the world. However, it does no longer appear on the top five list of the major export destinations for Thai canned tuna. Major destinations of the past, such as United Kingdom (UK) and Germany, are no longer of great importance to Thailand’s tuna processors. Actually the EU is on it way of becoming a minor market for Thailand. The country's industry has shown great creativity and flexibility in developing new markets all over the world.

Thailand, today’s largest canned tuna producer, records the United States and Australia as its main markets so far this year (based on January-August data), with respectively 60.335 M/T and 26.719 M/T of canned product imported from the Asian country in 2008.

The numbers represent a 12% and 39% increase over the same period in 2007. Libya, Japan and Canada are also key markets for Thai tuna.

These five countries represent together a 47% share of Thai exports, while the EU member states had a combined 16% share in 2007 and 10% so far this year. The high import duties imposed by the EU countries on an almost doubled CFR price -due to high raw material costs- played a major role in the country’s efforts to seek new markets.

Nearly 10 years ago, in 1999, countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia were not considered a growing market, but now Thai canned tuna exports to those countries have inflated by 212% and 210% respectively - compared to 2007. Meanwhile, the exports to the UK, a former main market, shrank 30% in the same 10 year period. During that interval, the UK market grew almost 10% year over year.

The import duty on Thailand’s canned tuna products entering the EU is currently still 24%. Even though a public statement from the Spanish National Association of Seafood Producers (ANFACO) firmly defended to maintain the duties on Asian tuna products, there are many believers that a change in trade regulations between the EU and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is close to happen. By that time, Thailand might not be so hungry to enter Europe anymore.